BANKER’S DRAUGHT
Last updated 10:07, Wednesday, 23 April 2008
A DECISION to throw out a plan for a pub in a former Carlisle bank has been overturned.
Builder Wayne McKnight won his appeal to open a pub in Denton Holme but is keeping his plans on ice for now.
Planning permission was initially refused for Mr McKnight’s plan to convert the former London Scottish Bank on the corner of Denton Street and Trafalgar Street.
Public pressure persuaded council bosses to reject the proposals – residents were concerned that noise, traffic and smokers would cause problems in the area.
But Mr McKnight appealed, and a planning inspector has ruled his scheme can go ahead, with conditions about opening hours and a noise abatement survey.
But he has decided that his current tenants – Greenleaf Greengrocers – will be staying put for now.
Mr McKnight said: “I’m glad that we have won the appeal but I have tenants in there at the moment and they are running a successful greengrocers.
“Even though we have the planning permission I will not be making any changes just yet.”
The initial proposals to create a pub called The Vault saw 95 written objections submitted to planners and a petition signed by 69 people.
McKnight’s also submitted a petition with 277 signatures in support of the scheme.
Planners will report to a Development Control meeting at Carlisle Civic Centre on Friday. Inspectors said that as the pub would be small and used mainly by local people there would be limited effects on nearby residents.
In their report, planning inspectors said that there are businesses on Denton Street that are open well into the night including takeaways, restaurants and a convenience store. They concluded that because of these late-night businesses there would be no problem with a pub opening.
Smoking was another concern raised by people objecting to the plan. But inspectors suggested in their report that the number of people smoking would be low and they would not cross Trafalgar Street.
